Dear Brothers and Sisters:

On this 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Word of God invites us to discover that the Lord’s love and mercy know no boundaries. The prophet Isaiah announces that God’s house will be “a house of prayer for all peoples.” God excludes no one who approaches Him with a sincere heart; rather, He opens His arms to welcome everyone and make them partakers of His salvation.

In the Gospel, we hear about Jesus’ encounter with a Canaanite woman who comes to Him with a heartfelt request: “Lord, help me.” Despite the difficulties and the responses that seem to test her trust, the woman does not give up. Her humility and perseverance impress Jesus, who recognizes the greatness of her faith and grants healing to her daughter. Her example reminds us that true faith knows how to persevere, even when we do not understand God’s ways.

We too may experience moments when our prayers seem to go unanswered. In those moments, the Canaanite woman teaches us not to abandon our trust in God. Faith does not mean having all the answers; rather, it means remaining close to the Lord, persevering in prayer, and believing that His mercy is greater than our difficulties. God hears the cry of His children and invites us to approach Him with confidence and humility.

May this Sunday also help us to look upon those around us with more open and welcoming hearts. If God welcomes everyone, then we too are called to build a parish community where no one feels excluded or rejected. Let us ask the Lord for the persevering faith of the Canaanite woman, so that our families and our community may become true witnesses of a God who listens, heals, welcomes, and saves all people.

May God bless you abundantly!

God bless,

Rev. Julio Fernández